In June 3rd, the Queens Botanical Garden in New York City held the “Rambling Rose Gala” fundraising evening event. Pauline Huang, the ambassador of the Queens Botanical Garden, was honored with the “Rose Gala Award”.
Guests mingled amidst the gentle evening breeze, lush greenery, and vibrant roses at the event. The executive director of the Queens Botanical Garden, Evie Hantzopoulos, presented the “Rose Gala Award” to Pauline Huang in recognition of her outstanding contributions to the garden.
This June also marks the 76th anniversary since the Queens Botanical Garden became a public garden and urban oasis on June 5, 1948. According to the Garden’s announcement, the fundraising event raised over $190,000.
Pauline Huang is not only the ambassador of the Queens Botanical Garden but also the former chairman, the first Asian chairman in the Garden’s 70-year history, and the founder of the Garden’s “Taiwan Orchid World Exhibition”. The annual Taiwan Orchid World Exhibition showcases hundreds of elegant and graceful Taiwanese orchids, highlighting Taiwan’s pride and attracting thousands to experience Taiwanese culture and the beauty of orchids.
In her speech, Pauline Huang expressed gratitude for the honor bestowed upon her by the Queens Botanical Garden. She recalled being invited to join the Garden’s Board of Directors by the then-executive director, Susan Lacerte, in 2013, and serving in various capacities including director, nomination chair, and board chair.
Pauline Huang shared an insightful and humorous anecdote saying, “Some of my community friends always ask me how much I earn as a board member at the Garden. When I hear this question, my first thought is, why don’t they ask how much I contribute in this role? Nevertheless, I tell them, yes, as a director and board chair, I indeed gain more than they imagine.”
She emphasized the value of volunteering and community service, stating that the Queens Botanical Garden is an intangible asset to the Queens community in promoting culture and education.
Executive Director Evie Hantzopoulos mentioned the Garden’s tight budget, with city funding cuts over the past year, but thankfully, the support from fundraising efforts helped the Garden overcome challenges. The Garden’s grounds and educational activities are filled with vibrant colors and joy. Recently, the Garden’s new educational building successfully went out for bid, and the city government is making final preparations. She expressed gratitude to donors for their generosity, emphasizing the importance of their contributions to the Garden’s continued success.
Representatives from the offices of Grace Meng and Ron Kim also presented an award certificate to Pauline Huang for her contributions.
The predecessor of the Queens Botanical Garden was the “Gardens on Parade,” a five-acre floral exhibition held during the 1939-1940 World’s Fair in Flushing Meadows-Corona Park. After the fair, local residents preserved and expanded the exhibition, and in 1946, the Garden was officially opened to the public under the name “The Queens Botanical Garden Society.” In 1961, the Garden relocated to its current location on Main Street in Flushing.